| If you own a diesel powered vehicle, you probably | | | | If it is torque you need, particularly for pulling a boat, |
| appreciate the inherent qualities of this type of engine. | | | | camper, or equipment, than a diesel engine has the |
| More torque, better fuel economy, easier maintenance | | | | advantage. A diesel engine is definitely slower |
| are some of the attributes of owning a diesel | | | | especially when starting from a dead stop, but when |
| powered vehicle. Still, some motorists complain about | | | | climbing hills or going over bridges, your diesel powered |
| the engine's weak power, particularly when | | | | vehicle can definitely handle the challenge. |
| accelerating from a full stop. What you may not know | | | | So, why aren't more vehicles built in North America |
| is that a diesel engine can be tweaked to produce | | | | diesel powered? A few reasons including: |
| more power without harming fuel economy. Let's take | | | | Stricter emissions control standards. Diesel engines |
| a look at diesel engines and what you can do to | | | | pollute more, so not many manufacturers have |
| squeeze out more power. | | | | improved upon the technology to produce an engine |
| Thanks to the work of one man, Rudolf Diesel, we | | | | that is environmentally friendly. However, several |
| have a choice when it comes to driving. Besides hybrid | | | | upcoming engines from VW and others may change |
| or rotary engines, the chief way most vehicles run is | | | | all of that. |
| via a gasoline powered internal combustion engine. | | | | Not enough power. Yes, a common complaint, even |
| However, with Diesel's 1892 patent of the engine that | | | | with turbo diesels, is that the engines are not powerful |
| bears his name, diesel power has played a significant | | | | enough. North American drivers are accustomed to |
| role in powering buses and trucks across North | | | | getting on the highway with a minimum amount of |
| America. Some passenger vehicles, particularly pick up | | | | effort. With a diesel engine, it can take as much as |
| trucks, are also diesel powered giving motorists an | | | | twice as long to get up to full speed. |
| option to gasoline. | | | | Fortunately, several aftermarket product developers |
| Diesel engines have the following advantages over | | | | are helping motorists squeeze out more power from |
| their gasoline counterparts: | | | | their diesel engines. Performance programmers, made |
| Diesels use air compression to create combustion | | | | for specific diesel engines, are helping motorists see a |
| versus the air/fuel mixture required by gasoline | | | | nice spike in horsepower as well as increases in |
| powered cars. This attribute means that diesel engines | | | | torque. The beauty of some of these aftermarket |
| do not require spark plugs and thus do not have to be | | | | parts is that they don't harm fuel economy. In fact, |
| tuned up. | | | | some claim to help improve it. |
| Diesel fuel has a higher fuel density than gasoline | | | | Yes, the number of diesel powered passenger |
| resulting in fuel economy increases of 20-30% over | | | | vehicles presently on North American highways is |
| comparable gasoline powered models. | | | | presently very small; however with newer, cleaner and |
| Diesel engines are cheaper to maintain as they have | | | | stronger engines on the way, you may soon find |
| less parts vs. a gasoline engine. The lifespan of a | | | | yourself opting for a diesel powered vehicle too. |
| diesel engine is also significantly longer. | | | | |